Molester`s Early Out Has Naperville Asking Why

May 06, 1986|By Joseph Sjostrom.

Walter Kaleta, the chronic child molester who was arrested again last week in Naperville, won an early release from prison on a previous conviction, thanks in part to provisions of the Illinois sentencing code--and in part to his exceptional ability to perform electrical repairs in jail, according to state officials.

``He did a good job as an electrician and he was on call as a troubleshooter when problems came up,`` said Nic Howell, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Kaleta, 47, known to police as the ``candy man`` because he used candy and ice cream to lure young girls, was sentenced to 10 1/2 years in prison in 1980 for three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Although he had been arrested more than 30 times since 1956 on child molestation charges, and though this was his seventh conviction, Kaleta was released in July, 1983. Most of the earlier convictions resulted in his being placed on probation or under court supervision.

The timing of his release conformed with state statutes, but it has caused intense frustration among law enforcement officials and confusion in the mind of the public, according to Naperville Police Chief James A. Teal Jr. ``People are constantly asking us `Why doesn`t 10 1/2 years mean 10 1/2 years?` We know there has to be some latitude, especially for good behavior. But release after half of his sentence? That`s ridiculous.``

After his release, Kaleta was placed under Department of Corrections supervision for two years, during which time he apparently followed orders to visit with a state agent once a week and to obtain psychological counseling. He was discharged from Department of Corrections supervision last July.

In the fall, he allegedly befriended the family of a young Naperville girl and used their trust to gain the opportunity to take indecent liberties with the girl, according to Naperville police.

Officers did not learn of that incident until last week, when Kaleta allegedly attempted to abduct five girls aged 8 to 12 from a Naperville apartment complex. He has been charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with the child in the fall and one count of attempted child abduction in connection with the incident last week. He was also charged with disorderly conduct for last week`s incident.

In a similar case, a Glendale Heights man who is under supervised release from prison was arrested in the suburb early Sunday for aggravated sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping and other charges. Edward T. McDarrah, 39, was released in April, 1985, after serving seven years of a 10- to 20-year sentence for armed robbery.

McDarrah was being held Monday in the Du Page County jail in Wheaton on a $1-million bond. Kaleta was being held there on $761,000 bond.

The state`s mandatory sentencing law, under which Kaleta was sentenced, was designed to promote uniformity in prison terms and to curb early releases of criminals. But it permits inmates to receive a day off their prison time for every day of good behavior.

Kaleta ``was a model prisoner. He adjusted well to prison life and he was recommended for numerous awards,`` Howell said, though he said department records were not specific on the awards Kaleta received.

Kaleta would have been eligible for release in September, 1984, halfway through his 10 1/2-year sentence. But because of his good behavior and his help with electrial work, the department gave Kaleta about one more year off his sentence for ``meritorius good time,`` Howell said.

``Meritorious good time`` concessions are permitted by state law, but are considerably more restrictive now than when Kaleta was in prison.

``As we interpreted it at that time, (meritorious good time off) could be limitless,`` Howell said. Since then, a state Supreme Court ruling put a limit of 90 days on it, Howell said.

Du Page County State`s Attorney James Ryan declined to speculate Monday on what prison term Kaleta might receive if he is convicted on the latest charges.